CN102016884A

CN102016884A - RFID tag for direct and indirect food contact

Info

Publication number: CN102016884A
Application number: CN2009801146703A
Authority: CN
Inventors: B·塞尔格拉斯; I·J·方斯特
Original assignee: Avery Dennison Corp
Current assignee: Avery Dennison Corp
Priority date: 2008-02-26
Filing date: 2009-02-26
Publication date: 2011-04-13
Also published as: US8786443B2; EP2248074A1; US20090212919A1; US10074048B2; EP2248074B1; WO2009108736A1; US20160019451A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an RFID device that is intended to be used in connection with direct or indirect packaging of consumer food products, such as with the use of food trays, totes and other transport packaging for perishable items. The RFID device may include a RFID inlay assembly that has been encased in a laminate that is safe for use with food products.

Description

Directly and the RFID label of indirect contact food

The cross reference related application

The application requires the right of priority of the U.S. Provisional Application submitted on February 26th, 2008 number 61/031,565, incorporates this application integral body into this paper.

Invention field

The present invention relates to radio-frequency (RF) identification (RFID) label and label field, relate more specifically to the use of RFID technology in direct and indirect Food Contact application, as transportation, storage, processing, the cooking and mobile that can be used to perishable goods such as consumer food.

Background of invention

Radio-frequency (RF) identification (RFID) label and label (this paper is referred to as " equipment ") are widely used in article are associated with identification code.RFID equipment generally has antenna and analog and/or digital electronic combination, and digital and electronic can comprise for example communication electronics, data storage and steering logic.For example, the RFID label is used to be connected with automotive safety is phase-locked, is used for the buildings gate inhibition, and is used to follow the tracks of stock and parcel.

As mentioned above, RFID equipment generally is divided into label or label.The RFID label is adhesively to be attached on the object or otherwise a surface directly to be attached in RFID equipment on the object.On the contrary, the RFID label can be fixed on the object by alternate manner, for example by using plastic fastener, cord or other fastening means.RFID equipment can also comprise embedded thing, and it is the RFID equipment that mediates and construct, and they subsequently must be through one or more manufacturing operations, to finish RFID label, label or final RFID equipment.

RFID equipment can comprise active label and label---it comprises power supply (as battery) and passive label and label---, and it does not comprise power supply (as battery).Under the situation of passive RFID equipment, for obtaining information from chip, " base station " or " reader " sends excitation signal to RFID label or label.Excitation signal excitation label or label, and the RFID circuit is passed the information that stores back reader.The RFID reader receives and decodes from the information of RFID label.Generally speaking, the RFID label can keep and transmit enough information with unique identification individuality, packing, goods and analog.

RFID label and label can also have those features of only writing primary information (although information can be repeated to read) and those features of writing information in use.For example, the RFID label can the storage condition data (its can by relevant sensor to), logistics course, status data etc.

Many article are arranged by single or be packaged in large quantity in the container so that transportation and/or store on market.Manufacturer, wholesale dealer, retailer and/or consumer may wish monitoring or distinguish containers on each aspect of whole item circulation chain.For example, and as be will the mentioning of illustrative purpose in the whole text, pharmaceutical manufacturer generally with pill or flexible package punch in the bottle.But, should be appreciated that multiple other consumer goods, but can be packaged in the container as personal care product, humans and animals consumer food, dietary supplements and analog.

Provide the container of consumer food can also be used to food preparation, as culinary art.The metal that may comprise in this container may be problematic, because microwave energy can cause metal partly to strike sparks, causes that cooking of food is inhomogeneous, damage or apparatus catch fire.

In the transportation and the distribution consumer goods, the tangible scheme of various interference is suggested.Although it is very complicated that these schemes become in time, they still may not provide suitable production and marketing Chain of Custody (chain of custody) to the consumer.Therefore, the consumer is importantly had the following assurance: the inclusions in the container is in desired its virgin state of manufacturer, and when container went wrong, the manufacturer can promptly be offered the investigator with other information relevant with product, so that problem can be handled easily.In addition, the course of importantly following the trail of food containers is can being that the consumer group guarantees the product integrality.

The invention summary

The embodiment of the present invention of the following stated is not to be intended for exhaustive or to limit the invention to the disclosed accurate form of following detailed description.But, select and describe embodiment so that it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that and understand principle of the present invention and practice.

Radio-frequency (RF) identification (RFID) label, label and equipment are widely used in the various applied environments.Typical R FID label can comprise the embedded thing of RFID, it has the circuit devcie (hereinafter being " the embedded thing of RFID ") on substrate of being installed in or the carrier, plane materiel (face stock), bonding agent or other material can put on substrate or the carrier, to finish the structure of equipment.After RFID equipment was manufactured to its final form, it was used to during direct or indirect packaging for foodstuff uses subsequently, to follow the tracks of and to distribute consumer food to the warehouse or retail environment.

One will with illustrative embodiments that the present invention is used in combination in, consider to be used for the RFID equipment that direct or indirect packaging for foodstuff uses and be disclosed.This RFID equipment comprises the embedded thing of RFID, and it has the chip with the product information coding.Chip is connected to antenna then, and antenna generally is made up of for example metal of copper, aluminium or silver.

Present described embodiment also comprises first and second substrates, and each substrate has first and second surfaces.Each substrate has first and second transversely-extending edges and the first and second longitudinal extension sides.Substrate is chosen from the GRAS list of materials.

The embedded thing of the RFID of present described embodiment is placed between each first and second substrate.By first and second transversely-extending edges and the first and second longitudinal extension sides are sealed each other, to form the sealing surround of the embedded thing of RFID, the embedded thing of RFID is enclosed between two substrates.

In the further illustrative embodiments of the present invention, the consumer food dish that is used to transport consumer food is described, and it comprises the plate of the bottom with first and second sides.The bottom have around the bottom and from described bottom roughly upwardly extending end wall.Described dish is used to transportation and holds consumer food at least provisionally.

Present described embodiment comprises RFID equipment.This RFID equipment comprises the embedded thing of RFID.The embedded thing of RFID has the chip and the antenna that is connected with chip with the product information coding.RFID equipment comprises the first and second GRAS substrates, and each all has first and second surfaces first and second GRAS substrates.Embedded thing is placed between the second surface of the first surface of described first substrate and described second substrate.For example by RFID equipment is adhesively adhered to the consumer food dish, be placed on food in the dish then, on the RFID equipment, RFID equipment contacted with consumer food.

Describing in the further illustrative embodiments of invention at present, GRAS RFID is provided equipment, it comprises the ground floor laminated structure of have integrated circuit (IC) or chip, and described integrated circuit (IC) or chip use the product information relevant with the consumer goods to encode.Integrated circuit is connected to antenna through electroconductive binder bonding, and antenna and integrated circuit are placed between first and second substrates to produce first laminated compenent.

Continue the embodiment of describing at present is discussed, second structure with first and second GRAS films is provided, each described first and second GRAS film has first and second end margins and first and second lateral edges.First laminated compenent of present embodiment is placed between the described first and second GRAS films to produce second laminated compenent, described second laminated compenent can be attached to dish or the canister (tote) that is used to handle consumer food, and it can directly or indirectly contact with the foodstuff article.

Except aforementioned embodiments set forth above, other embodiment can comprise that the surface area that makes at least one film is greater than another.In addition, can IC or chip be connected to antenna by band (strap).

By eliminating or removing, as by cutting a part of metal antenna, perhaps use all or part of of fire-retardant or fire resistive material cover antenna, the present invention can also reduce or eliminate the sparking danger in the microwave cooking.

Describe at present invention in addition further in the embodiment, the illustrative methods that is provided for making laminated compenent He is used to produce the GRAS RFID equipment that uses with food carriers.Described method comprises step: the embedded thing of RFID that can use chip, band or embolus to make at first is provided.Then, the embedded thing of RFID is placed in the GRAS substrate.Subsequently, cover an embedded thing of RFID and a GRAS substrate with the 2nd GRAS substrate.The embedded thing of RFID that comprises between the first and second GRAS substrates and first and second substrates is adhered to each other to form laminated compenent.At last, laminated compenent is adhered to food carriers.

Except aforesaid method embodiment, the step that also can carry out other is as coding and test.

Referring to detailed description of the present invention and claims, it is clear that these and other objects of the present invention will become.

The accompanying drawing summary

Following more detailed description by reference preferred illustrative embodiment of the present invention and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, these and other objects of the present invention and advantage will be understood and be understanded more completely, wherein:

Fig. 1 describes the side view of RFID equipment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 provides RFID equipment of the present invention to connect the side view of consumer food dish thereon;

Fig. 3 shows the side view of further embodiment of the present invention, and wherein first and second laminated compenents are used to form exemplary RFID equipment;

The vertical view of the RFID equipment of invention is described in Fig. 4 graphic extension at present; With

Fig. 5 presents the block diagram according to illustrative methods of the present invention.

Detailed Description Of The Invention

By representing the following detailed description of at present known enforcement optimal mode of the present invention, the present invention is set forth now in more detail.Yet, should be appreciated that this description is not to be used for limiting the present invention, but be provided for the purpose of setting forth general features of the present invention.

Relevant with the distribution consumer food with transportation, U.S. food and drug administration (Food and Drug Administration) (" FDA ") have announced the policy of direct and indirect Food Contact material (" FCS ") at 21CFR joint 201.FCS is defined as " intention is used as at any material of making, wrap up, pack, transport or holding the material member of using in the food " (21CFR joint 201).One or more FCS materials can be configured to the Food Contact goods, and described Food Contact goods are film, container such as bottle, canister, box, carton etc., or the goods that use in the making food such as stirring rod, dish, travelling belt etc.The use of some FCS materials in packaging for foodstuff or transportation can be authenticated by suitable government organs such as FDA, perhaps be confirmed as " GRAS " (being commonly referred to be safe) in addition, this means that it is safe that this material generally is identified as in special use of using by the expert.

The exemplary film that can be used in combination and be considered to GRAS with the present invention includes but not limited to LDPE and PET.The bonding agent that can be used in combination and be considered to GRAS with the present invention comprises various starch-based adhesives, comprises those that are derived from corn, potato, rice etc., perhaps can use other bonding agent of other plant based oil, and exemplary materials is from FASSON S200N can obtain.

Fig. 1 provides the cross-sectional view of exemplary RFID equipment, and it combine with invention of describing at present and provides and by reference marker number 10 descriptions.RFID equipment 10 comprises substrate 12, provides antenna element 14 in the substrate 12.Can provide

antenna element

14 and 15 in the substrate 12 by printing electrically conductive ink, etching or sheet metal such as aluminium foil being placed on pattern.Integrated circuit (IC) or chip also are placed in the substrate 12 and can be attached to substrate 12 by the bonding agent (not shown).Chip attach joint 18 is used to by band-shaped substrate 20 and 22 chip 16 is connected to antenna element 14,15.Exemplary RFID equipment can be from Avery Dennison RFID Company, Clinton, and SC obtains, and commodity are called AD 222, AD 224.

Second substrate 24 is provided at the over top of chip 16 and band-shaped substrate 20 and 22.Second substrate 24 is attached to this structure by bonding agent 26, and the preferred GRAS bonding agent of bonding agent is to produce the laminated compenent that forms RFID equipment 10.As can be seen from Figure 1, second substrate 24 is stretched out the end margin of first substrate 12 with imbrication first substrate 12.The imbrication of second substrate 24 part can be used for laminar construction is fixed to food carriers then.

Except connect adhering to each otherly, first and

second substrates

12 and 24 also can be connected to each other to obtain lasting centering on by using heat, pressure, ultrasonic energy or other suitable manner.

First and

second substrates

12 and 24 each be provided to first and second terminal and first and second sides of longitudinal extension roughly of substantial transverse extension respectively, as after explain about the discussion of Fig. 4.

Turn to Fig. 2 now, food disc or canister 40 are shown has bottom 42 and the 42 roughly upwardly extending

end wall

44 and 46 from the bottom.The description that provides among Fig. 2 only shows first and

second end wall

44 and 46, but should be appreciated that end wall can be all extends around the periphery of the bottom 42 of food disc 40.Food 48 is displayed in the food disc 40 and contacts with the bottom 42 of dish 40 usually.Food 48 can be the consumer food or the intermediate food of any kind, as meat, baked goods, dairy produce or any aforementioned middle composition that uses.Fig. 2 shows that also food 48 directly contacts with the RFID equipment 50 that is attached to dish 40.Can pass through the bonding agent (not shown),, RFID equipment 50 is attached to dish 40, perhaps alternatively, can adhere to RFID equipment 50 by sonic welding or alternate manner preferably by the GRAS bonding agent.Directly contact with RFID equipment 50 though food 48 shows, be to be understood that food 48 can with the indirect contact of RFID equipment, as for example being wrapped at food under the situation in the packing, between food and RFID equipment, to provide the part barrier.

Fig. 3 describes the further embodiment of the present invention, and wherein first laminated compenent shown in Fig. 1 is enclosed in second big envelope (envelope) or laminated compenent that is about to discuss.RFID equipment among Fig. 3 is labeled as numeral 70 usually, and it comprises first laminated compenent 72.First laminated compenent 72 produces according to the description that provides among Fig. 1, be that the embedded thing of RFID is to produce like this: chip is connected to is placed on suprabasil antenna, the over top of using second substrate to cover the embedded thing of RFID (chip, antenna, substrate) is then sealed.The embedded thing that is suitable for using in the present invention is from Avery Dennison RFID Company, and Clinton SC can get.Chip may be provided in belt-like form (chip that has Connection Element), and the embedded thing of RFID can be according to United States Patent (USP) 6,951, and the manufacture method that provides in 596 is made, and this patent is incorporated this paper by reference into, and itself and the application transfer the possession of jointly.

RFID equipment 70 is provided to first substrate, 74, the first substrates 74 and has first and

second surfaces

75 and 77 respectively.The embedded thing 72 of RFID (first laminated compenent) can be placed on first substrate, 74 second surfaces 77.Second substrate 78 is provided.Second substrate 78 has first and

second surfaces

79 and 81 respectively.Second substrate 78 adheres to the embedded thing 72 of RFID and first substrate 74 by bonding agent 82.Bonding agent 82 can stretch out the end margin 71 and 73 of first substrate 74, RFID equipment 70 is adhered to food carriers as described in Figure 2.Second substrate 78 and first substrate, 74 sealings are obtained second laminated compenent, and it comprises the embedded thing of RFID or first laminated compenent 72.By this way, if the bonding agent that uses when making embedded thing is not the GRAS approval as conductive paste,, embedded thing avoiding food contaminated by being enclosed in big envelope or the laminar structure.The second surface of second substrate 78 or face 81 also can be coated with opaque pigment or printing ink such as opaque and white, and it can make substrate surface comprise people or machine-readable markers, as bar code or alert flag " not edible (DO NOT EAT) ".The film of making second substrate also can be opaque, and is opposite with double exposure (overprinting) or coating.

Except adhesively being fixed to the embedded thing 72 of RFID, alternatively, second laminated compenent of being made up of first and

second substrates

74 and 78 also can combine with the embedded thing 72 of RFID by utilizing heat, pressure, ultrasonic energy or other mode that is fit to, with in lasting the combining of acquisition between the embedded thing 72 of RFID and first and

second substrates

74 and 78.

With reference now to the Fig. 4 that describes invention at present,, wherein RFID equipment is commonly referred to as numeral 100.In this Fig. 4, embedded thing 102 is shown as and is included in bigger substrate 104 and the less substrate 106, and it has formed second laminated compenent.

The embedded thing 102 of RFID comprises 101 (chip and the band Connection Elements) of being with that are connected to antenna element 103 and 105.The embedded thing 102 of RFID is placed in first substrate 107, and first substrate 107 can be paper or film such as PET.The embedded thing 102 of RFID can be covered to form the first laminated compenent (see figure 3) by the second substrate (not shown).No matter whether by second substrate sealing, the embedded thing 102 of RFID all is placed on first exterior base 106, first exterior base 106 preferably is selected from GRAS material such as LDPE or PET.Substrate 106 has the first and second horizontal expansion end margins 112 and the 114 and first and second longitudinal extension sides 116 and 118.

The second outer envelope substrate 104 is placed on first substrate, 106 over top, so that the area of second substrate 104 is greater than the area of first substrate 106.From accompanying drawing 4 as can be seen, horizontal expansion limit 120 and 122 and each of longitudinal extension limit 124 and 126 all extend beyond the edge and the side of first substrate.Should be appreciated that second substrate 104 can only extend beyond side or distal edge or the two, as shown in FIG..The bonding agent (not shown) is used to second substrate 104 is fixed to first substrate 106 and the embedded thing 102 of RFID.In addition, bonding agent is preferably used for RFID equipment 100 is fixed to carrier plate or analog, and bonding agent is provided on the surface of substrate 104, does not contact with the embedded thing 102 of RFID.

Second substrate 104 also can use for example opaque or Chinese white is painted, and this can make outside surface be printed, shown in Reference numeral 130.The mark of printing can adopt the form of people or machine sensible information, as numerical coding or bar code, and Useful Information, as remind the consumer have with tray bottom in " the not edible " or " RFID equipment " of device-dependent risk.

The part 103 and 105,103 of antenna ' and 105 ' can be cut or be covered respectively with material 113,115, with the read range of limiting device.Alternatively, material 113,115 can be fire proofing or fire resistive material, to stop the aluminum antenna sparking during the microwave treatment packaging for foodstuff.

Pay close attention to Fig. 5 now, it has set forth the block diagram of describing illustrative embodiments of the present invention.At first, in step 200, the embedded thing of RFID is provided.Preferably produce embedded thing by band application being added to substrate, described substrate has the antenna pattern that applies thereon.Subsequently, in step 203, can encode to integrated circuit or chip with product information.Can be encoded to guarantee information at the embedded thing of step 205 test, and chip receives with meeting the requirements and transmits.

Subsequently, in step 210, embedded thing is placed in the GRAS substrate.In step 220, a GRAS substrate and embedded thing are covered by the 2nd GRAS substrate.In step 215, can by as shear or eliminate with fire-retardant or fireproof material cover antenna alternatively the part of antenna.Then, in step 230, first and second substrates are adhered to together, in step 240, form laminar construction, and embedded thing is fixed between first and second substrates.At last, in step 250, laminar structure is affixed to food carriers.Consumer food can directly or indirectly contact with the RFID equipment on being placed on food disc then.In step 245, can add at the second surface of substrate outside envelope and print thing.The second surface of can be with opaque material or using opaque coating to be coated with outside envelope is simply printed, so that print thing as seen.

Therefore according to the present invention as can be seen, the favourable RFID equipment of height that is used to pack and transport the consumer food goods is provided.Though in conjunction with thinking most realistic at present and preferred embodiment having described the present invention, but to those skilled in the art, be apparent that, the present invention is not limited to disclosed embodiment and can carries out many improvement within the scope of the present invention and be equal to setting, and the wideest explanation of scope of the present invention and claims is consistent to comprise all equivalent structures and product.

At this, the inventor states that its intention determines and assess the reasonable proper range of its invention with the foundation doctrine of equivalents, because the present invention relates to not depart from the described literal scope of the present invention of claims in essence but any device, system, method or goods outside this scope.

Claims

1. be used for the RFID equipment that direct or indirect packaging for foodstuff is used, it comprises:

The embedded thing of RFID, it has chip and antenna, and described chip is encoded with product information, described antenna and described chips incorporate;

First and second substrates, each described substrate have first and second surface and first and second transversely-extending edges and the first and second longitudinal extension sides, and each described substrate is GRAS; And

The embedded thing of wherein said RFID is placed between each described first and second substrate, and each described first and second longitudinal extension side and each described first and second transversely-extending edges are sealed each other to form the sealing surround of the embedded thing of described RFID.

2. RFID equipment according to claim 1, wherein said RFID equipment comprises the GRAS bonding agent, so that each described first and second substrate are fixed to one another.

3. RFID equipment according to claim 1, the embedded thing of wherein said RFID comprise that the band from described chip to described antenna connects.

4. RFID equipment according to claim 1, the area of wherein said second substrate is greater than the area of described first substrate.

5. RFID equipment according to claim 1 is wherein printed the described second surface that thing is provided at described second substrate.

6. RFID equipment according to claim 1, the part of wherein said antenna is capped with fire-retardant or fire proofing material.

7. be used to transport the consumer food dish of consumer food, it comprises:

The dish, it has the bottom with first and second sides, described bottom have around described bottom and from described bottom roughly upwardly extending end wall;

Consumer food;

RFID equipment, described RFID equipment comprises the embedded thing of RFID, described embedded thing have with the chip of product information coding and with the antenna of described chips incorporate, described RFID equipment comprises the first and second GRAS substrates, each described first and second substrate has first and second surfaces, and described embedded thing is placed between the described second surface of the described first surface of described first substrate and described second substrate; And

Wherein said RFID equipment contacts with described consumer food.

8. consumer food dish according to claim 7, the embedded thing of wherein said RFID comprise the band that connects described chip and described antenna.

9. consumer food dish according to claim 7, the area of wherein said the 2nd GRAS substrate is greater than each of the area of the area of the embedded thing of described RFID and a described GRAS substrate.

10. consumer food dish according to claim 7, wherein said RFID equipment is adhered to described consumer food dish by the GRAS bonding agent.

11. consumer food dish according to claim 7, the embedded thing of wherein said RFID comprises first substrate and second substrate, and described chip and described antenna are placed between described first substrate and described second substrate.

12. consumer food dish according to claim 9, the embedded thing permanent seal of wherein said the 2nd GRAS substrate and described RFID.

13.GRAS RFID equipment, it comprises:

The ground floor laminated structure, it has the integrated circuit of using the product information coding relevant with the consumer goods, and described integrated circuit is connected with antenna, and described antenna and described integrated circuit are placed between first and second substrates to form first laminated compenent;

Second structure, it has the first and second GRAS films, and each described first and second GRAS film has first and second end margins and first and second lateral edges; With

Wherein said first laminated compenent is placed between the described first and second GRAS films to form second laminated compenent.

14. GRAS RFID equipment according to claim 13, wherein said first laminated compenent adhesively is connected to described second laminated compenent by the GRAS bonding agent.

15. GRAS RFID equipment according to claim 13, the area of wherein said the 2nd GRAS film is greater than a described GRAS film, and each of described first and second end margins and described first and second lateral edges extends beyond described first and second end margins and described first and second lateral edges of a described GRAS film.

16. GRAS RFID equipment according to claim 13, wherein said integrated circuit is connected with described antenna by the band Connection Element.

17. GRAS RFID equipment according to claim 13, wherein said GRAS RFID equipment are attached to consumer food transportation thing.

18. GRAS RFID equipment according to claim 13, wherein said second laminated compenent is provided with the printing thing.

19. be used to produce the method for the GRAS RFID equipment that combines with food carriers, it may further comprise the steps:

The embedded thing of RFID that uses band to make is provided, and described embedded thing has antenna;

The embedded thing of described RFID is placed in the GRAS substrate;

Cover an embedded thing of described RFID and a described GRAS substrate with the 2nd GRAS substrate;

Described first and second GRAS substrates and the embedded thing of described RFID that is included in are therebetween adhered to each other to form laminated compenent; With

Described laminated compenent is attached to food carriers.

20. method according to claim 19, the further step that the step that it is included in provides the embedded thing of RFID is encoded to the embedded thing of described RFID afterwards.

21. method according to claim 19, it is included in the further step of the embedded thing of described RFID being tested after the step that the embedded thing of described RFID is encoded.

22. method according to claim 19, it is included in the further step that prints after the step that described laminar structure is fixed together in described the 2nd GRAS substrate.

23. method according to claim 19, it comprises the further step that reduces, covers or remove the part of described antenna.